I'm off to court for the afternoon. BTD has many posts up this morning on health care and politics, just scroll down for them.

Via the ACLU: The 9th Circuit held oral argument today in the Boeing-Jeppeson Ghost Air/states secret case.

"To this day, not a single victim of the Bush administration's torture policies has had his day in court. Across the board, the administration is taking positions that deny torture victims any chance for justice," said ACLU staff attorney Ben Wizner. "It is no longer credible to claim that extraordinary rendition is a state secret. This case should be allowed to move forward without further delay."

The ACLU also testified before Congress today, warning that the war on terror must not infringe on constitutionally protected liberties.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Today seems an auspicious day to republish this piece:

As citizens and activists, our allegiances have to be to the issues we believe in. I am a partisan Democrat it is true. But the reason I am is because I know who we can pressure to do the right thing some of the times. Republicans aren't them. But that does not mean we accept the failings of our Democrats. There is nothing more important that we can do, as citizens, activists or bloggers than fight to pressure DEMOCRATS to do the right thing on OUR issues.

And this is true in every context I think. Be it pressing the Speaker or the Senate majority leader, or the new hope running for President. There is nothing more important we can do. Nothing. It's more important BY FAR than "fighting" for your favorite pol because your favorite pol will ALWAYS, I mean ALWAYS, disappoint you.

[. . .] Yes, they are all pols. And they do what they do. Do not fight for pols. Fight for the issues you care about. That often means fighting for a pol of course. But remember, you are fighting for the issues. Not the pols.

This is an Open Thread.

In important news, Friday I will be publishing my comprehensive college football bowl preview, complete with picks against the spread (as of December 18) in all 34 games. This will be my last chance to get my season record above the .600 mark against the spread for the season. I think I need to go 23-11 or something like that. I've done it before. And I will do it again.

This is an Open Thread.

I lost my last regular season game of my fantasy football league, and thereby avoided playing the toughest team in the first round of the playoffs. Did I "throw" the game? Hard to say. I played an unorthodox lineup but all were point scorers. In fact, some of the changes added to my total.

I think the fantasy gods should not seek retribution against me.

This is an Open Thread.

I'll pick some football games a little later.

This is an Open Thread.

My football picks - Colts (-6.5) over Broncs. Vikes (-6.5) over Bengals. Bucs (+4) over Jets. Chiefs (+2) over Bills. Bears (+4) over Packers. Falcons (+10) over Saints. Lions (+14) over Ravens. Fish (+2) over Jags. Pats (-13) over Panthers. Seahawks (+7) over Texans. Titans (-13) over Rams. Raiders (+1) over Washington. Chargers (+3.5) over Cowboys. And finally, painfully, Iggles (-1) over Giants.

I'm going to an early screening of "It's A Wonderful Life" at one of those old movie theaters that has been around for 80 years and actually had the first run of the movie. So with that excuse, I now present you one of my favorite scenes in film history:

You remember when there used to a be a political party that used to think and talk like that?

The Heisman award is tonight. Toby Gerhart should win. Colt McCoy will.

This is an Open Thread.

Hannukkah? Chanukah? Anyway, have a happy first night.

This is an Open Thread.

It's been 34 days since the House passed its versions of the Health Insurance Premium Assistance Act.

The Senate has spent all year wasting time in their committees to now basically toss out the versions of a health insurance bill they wrote. Harry Reid ended up writing his own bill and now they are negotiating that bill. Who knows what their final bill will look like.

And then there should be a conference between the House and Senate for a final bill. And then that probably won't pass either the House or the Senate. So this year might produce a reconciliation bill that will be inserted into one of the budget bills or no bill may be passed at all.

As a demonstration of governing ability, Democrats have pretty much failed when it comes to the health insurance issue, no matter the end result.

This is an Open Thread.

Progressive taxation is cool again:

Americans want their government to create jobs through spending on public works, investments in alternative energy or skills training for the jobless. They also want the deficit to come down. And most are ready to hand the bill to the wealthy.

A Bloomberg National Poll conducted Dec. 3-7 shows two- thirds of Americans favor taxing the rich to reduce the deficit. [. . .] The appeal of taxes on the wealthy crosses party lines. About half of Republicans back the idea and it is more popular among Democrats and independents.

Tax the rich! Let's do it. Speaking for me only of course.

This is an Open Thread.

Your turn.

This is an Open Thread.

Day got busy.

This is an Open Thread.

Update (TL): Busy day for me too, I'm headed to the jail. First day this week it's not sheer ice on the roads. We're up to 6 degrees outside. If you are lucky enought to be in a warm locale, enjoy.

Considering the source, this is one of the more amusing pieces you will read today. One commenter captures the hilarity:

People might remember a few of us scratching our heads over how so many others drank the kool aid and believed Obama would have mystical powers [. . .] And one of the principal kool aid makers - who was willing to lie in support of Obama over complete bullsh*t nonsense like Clinton rigging the polls in Nevada - is now making a joke about it.

As I said before, I never waste a chance to republish this post: